– Enver Hoxha –
Broadcast via radio on May 10, 1945 and published in the
newspaper “Bashkimi” on May 11, 1945
Dear Albanian people,
The great day of victory, for which we shed so much blood and made so many sacrifices, has arrived. Hitlerite Germany has been crushed and has surrendered unconditionally. The war in Europe is over. When from heroic Moscow, Marshal Stalin brought the news to the world that the red flag — the triumphant flag of the Soviets — was flying over Berlin, all peoples rose up and breathed freely. The great anguish that had gripped the hearts of the people for years disappeared along with the nazi monster. On this great day of joy, we turn our heads and see the immense catastrophe into which fascist Germany had plunged Europe.
Never before had the world seen an enemy attack humanity with such ferocity and barbarism as Hitlerite Germany did. The rule of darkness drowned Europe in blood. The German nazis, the greatest criminals history has ever known, tore through nations like wild beasts — killing, shedding blood, torturing, slaughtering and mercilessly plundering. These beasts in human form, representing the darkest medievalism of the German barons, used modern military tactics and the latest instruments of war to attempt at all costs to overthrow the world of progress and impose their barbaric laws. All of Europe was drowned in blood under the weight of German iron and fire. In the West, the people of Great Britain stood unbroken; in Moscow, in the Kremlin, the genius of Stalin shone, saving humanity; across the Ocean, the great American people threw their military power into the balance of the anti-fascist war. The strong alliance against aggressive fascism became a reality. The great and glorious Red Army crushed Hitler’s forces one after another. It completely overturned the situation. The marshals, generals and officers of the Stalinist school shattered the enemy’s sinister plans and led the armies of the great Soviet peoples to a historic victory. Their victories were the victories of progressive humanity — they were our victories. Alongside the Soviets, the Anglo-Americans made their valuable contribution.
In blood-soaked Europe, we too — the oppressed peoples — were drenched in blood, but we did not break. Under an indescribable terror, we held high the flag of resistance and never lost our great faith in victory. For victory, we sacrificed everything — we were killed, burned and destroyed — but we marched forward, always forward, to break the chains of enslavement. Our struggle was superhuman because it was unequal; our struggle was magnificent, even though at the beginning we were unarmed and poorly prepared. The contribution we made to the great cause of humanity is immeasurable, for with grit and courage, we climbed our calvary1 and, standing tall and stronger than ever, we reached the triumph of victory.
In this colossal war, the Albanian people stood at the forefront, just as they stand today alongside all those who fought fascism. Our country, with its heroic army, struck the enemy hard, wounded it and drove it out of our Homeland. Our people won their freedom, secured their independence and established democracy. Today, confident in their own strength, they are advancing rapidly toward progress and prosperity. Our people, who have endured immense suffering, are more determined than ever to erase every trace of their dreadful past. They are committed to uprooting all fascist and pro-fascist remnants that may still exist in our country; only in this way can they move forward on the path of peace and reconstruction. In this, they are fully convinced. Their main duty is to strengthen the government, to reinforce their army — the true defender of the rights won through blood.
Today, at the height of our joy for this great victory, the Albanian people — just as they remained loyal to the great anti-fascist alliance during the war — will continue to stand firm in their commitment to defending peace. Just as they threw all their strength without hesitation into this war of liberation, they will now dedicate all their efforts and raise their voices to claim the rights that belong to them and that they have won with blood. It is our right, based on the contribution we have made in this war, to have our say and to take our rightful place in the United Nations. We demand this openly, in the name of the principles for which this war was fought, in the name of the principles upon which the peace of tomorrow must and will be built.
Long live the alliance of the great anti-fascist bloc!
Long live the glorious Red Army!
Long live the Albanian people!
Long live our heroic army!
Glory to the martyrs who fell on the battlefield for the liberation of our Homeland!
Republished on the occasion of Red Army Day, February 23, in the 80th Year of Victory, 2025
Note
1 A road of hardships.